Terminal connector for curling-irons and the like.



F. THURNTON, JR.

Patented Feb.29,191(3.

)(TTORNEY V o I V 00 .2 7 2 Z 7 6 2 i 7 z I w 2 .00 Z 70 2 J IE 7 1.5 E4|i \l V fipm T I. 1 A/ w/ W 0 Z HOUSE ELECTRIC-AND MANU VANIA.

Asplicetion filed 35a" 1, 1913.

'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l", FRANK .liz, citizen 4 United States, r-rsident ofFittshurgh, in the CORE i Allegheny and St, or lennsylvsnia, haveinvented a new and useful lnipr venient in Terminal Connectors forCurling-irons and the like, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to electrically heated apparatus, and it SBCillreference to terminal plug connectors for curling irons and the like.

The object of my invention is to provide curling" irons and otherelectrical apparatus With a simple, inexpensive and detachable terminalconnector.

Heretofore, it has not been the usual practice to provide curling ironswith detachable plug connectors and, consequently, more or lessinconvenience has resultec. In former designs also, the movable tong wasperinanently fastened upon the iron, which has been found to be anundesirabl feature in many cases.

According to my preseiit'invention, 1 proid detachable plug-connectorWhich is adapted for insertion within the handle of the iron and which,in addition, has a selfclamping feature.

Also, I provide a readily detachable spring-supported tong.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a longitudinal tion of acurling iron constructed in accordance with my invention; FigiQ is aview, in elevation, with parts broken away, taken at right angles toFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken on line Ill-lll of Fig. 1;Fig. 4; is a sectional View, on line IVlV 0]": Fig. 2. and Fi 5 is asectional view on line VV of Fig. 4.

Referring; to the -rawing, a curling iron 1 comprises a removable heater2, an incasing member 3 therefor, a detachable ton 4, a tubular handle5, and a plug connector 6 disposed Within the handle.

The removable heater 2 comprises a central rod 7, an insulating cementsheath 3 Triomwou, and a and a helical ly wound conductor 9 embedded inthe sheath. One end of the heating element 9 is connected to the outerend of the rod 7 and its other end is connected to a shell 10 that is insulated from, and concentricslly disposed around said rod near itsTERMIHXL CONNECTGE FOR CUELIEG-IRQNS specification of Letters Eatent.

inner end. The so tne heater Ween Y .0 1 r oe .ulied. with 3 is closed,and its constitute a ferrule 5 is screwed or otherwise f The ferrule isprovided "01 of oppositely disposed n conn ct ion With the tongdescribed.

The tong 4: comprises an semi-cylindrical cap 14 tht fit casing shell 3and is pix e-tally mounted on the pins 13 of the ferrule 12, and an ouwardly prqectmg lever 15 for moving the cap away from the shell 3. TheL} is biased to its closed position by spring 16 one end of which isattached, to e lever 15 and the other end of l s the ferrule 12intermediate the pins 1 tong is detachably mounted on the ins 13 bymeans of a pair of longitudinally extend ing hooks 17. Though normallyheld in position by the spring 16, the tong 4: readily be detached, aswill be seen from the foregoing description.

The handle 5 may be 0 any convenient form, and is made hollow Mr therccep n of the lower end of the heater 2 and the plug-connector 6. As aof connect 8 ing the heater terminals '2' and 10 to the supply circuitthrough the connector 6, a plurality of stationary terminal strips 13,that are adapted for insertion in the connector, are partially embeddedin clock 19 of suitable insulating matesial th t is disposed Within thehandle 5 beyond .1e end of the heater 2. A plurality of suitably formedsprin fingers 20 and 1 gage the stationary terminals 18, as hereinbeforestated. One member 25 of each of the jaws 23 is imrnovably attached tothe socket 22 and the other member 26 is movable laterally to a limiteddegree. Each of the members 25 is provided with a pair ofoppositely-disposed ears 27 that are bent at right angles to its bodyportion and have centrally disposed openings 28. The movable members 26are provided with oppositely-disposed lugs 29 that project through theopenings 28 in the ears 27. A air of oppositely-disposed pins 30 areslida 1y disposed in openings in the socket 22 in position to engage theouter faces of the-jaw members 26, and a pair of springs 31 that areattached to a supporting band 32 upon the outer end of'the socket, actupon the pins to resiliently hold the movable jaw members 26 inengagement with the respective stationary terminals 18.

Assuming the connector 5 to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, theoperation of the switch parts when the plug is removed, is as follows:The jaws 23 are disengaged from the stationary terminals 18. against theaction of the spring-supported pins 30, which tend to close them. Ininserting the connector, the jaws 23 are forced over the ter' minals 18against the action of the springactuated pins, any necessary movement ofthe jaw members 26 being permitted by movement of the lugs 29 within theopenings 28 in the cars 27. A constant pressure is thus imposed on theswitch jaws to maintain the circuit connections. A

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific structures and detailsherein set forth, but desire that only such limitations shall e imposedas are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A'switching device embodying cooperating stationary and movablecontact mem means disposed at right angles to their plane of contact forclamping said contact mem 'bers lIl position.

3. A switching device embodying cooperating stationary and movablecontact members, an insulating casing therefor, a plurality of resilientmembers attached to said casing, and a plurality of movable membersassociatedwith said resilient members for clamping said contact. membersin position.

4. A switching device embodying coiiperating stationary and movablecontact members, an insulating casing therefor, a plurality of resilientmembers attached to said casing and a plurality of movable pins actuatedby said resilient members for clamping said contact members in position.

5. A switching device embodying a plurality of stationary contactmembers, a plurality of coiiperating movable contact members eachprovided with an additional loosely attached contact member, an.insulating casing for said contact members provided with a plurality oftransverse openings, a plurality of flat springs attached to saidcasing, and a plurality of pins disposed at right angles to the plane ofcontact and adapted to move through said openings and actuated by saidsprings for clamping said loosely attached contact members againstsaidother contact members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th dayof April 'FRANK THORNTON. JR. Witnesses:

C. A LBoRG, B. B. Hmns.

